Kings' nine picks tied for most in 2014 NHL Draft

Kings\' nine picks tied for most in 2014 NHL DraftThe work isn\'t done yet for the Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings, as they will be one of the busiest teams at the 2014 NHL Draft with nine picks.

The work isn't done yet for the Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings, as they will be one of the busiest teams at the 2014 NHL Draft.

The Kings are one of five teams with nine picks in the two-day selection process, with the draft being held June 27-28 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The first round is Friday, June 27 (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TSN, RDS); Rounds 2-7 will be conducted Saturday, June 28 (10 a.m. ET; NHLN-US, NHLN-CA).

Los Angeles has three selections among the first 90 picks, but will have a chance to add to its organizational depth with five picks in the final two rounds, including two picks each in the sixth and seventh rounds.

Also with nine picks each are the St. Louis Blues, New York Islanders, Dallas Stars and Washington Capitals.

The Blues will pick three times in the first 52 selections, and four times in the first 82. They also could gain extra picks in the second and third rounds from the Buffalo Sabres if they trade impending unrestricted free agent goaltender Ryan Miller. However, by doing so they would have to send their first-round pick, No. 21, to the Sabres.

The Islanders have a great chance to add to their prospect base with five picks in the first three rounds and seven in the first four.

New Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan can start putting his stamp on the organization. His team has the 13th pick in the first round, and six picks between rounds 4 and 7. Dallas also has most of its picks in the later rounds, with two in the fourth and two in the sixth.

The most interesting team to watch during the draft could be the Sabres, who have eight picks, including the No. 2 pick in the first round and three second-round selections. In all the Sabres have four of the top 50 picks and five in the first 61.

Tampa Bay and the Anaheim Ducks are the only teams with two picks in the first round. The Lightning have the 19th pick and the 28th pick, acquired from the New York Rangers as part of the Martin St. Louis trade. The Ducks have the 10th pick from the Ottawa Senators as part of the Bobby Ryan trade, plus the 24th pick.

The Rangers and Senators each have four picks, the fewest of any teams.

The Florida Panthers, who have the first pick, have five selections, as do the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Philadelphia Flyers currently have five picks but will receive a sixth during the draft. They are owed a conditional pick from the Boston Bruins from the Andrej Meszaros trade in February; if the Bruins re-sign Meszaros before the draft they will send a second-round pick to Philadelphia; if not the Flyers will get the Bruins' third-round pick.